If money were no option - ideal imaging rig

[bloodhound31]

I've been thinking, what if I could find the money somehow to put a serious rig in the observatory?

So, I've been online looking at a lot of stuff and it looks like I could be up for around $100,00 dollars....ish...

Here's what I was thinking of:
*A big RC Optical Systems 16 inch truss telescope (http://www.rcopticalsystems.com/telescopes/16truss.html)

*A paramount ME II German Equatorial Mount (http://www.bisque.com/sc/pages/ParamountMEII.aspx)

*I have no idea on camera's, but thinking a large-format camera with filter wheels for narrowband imaging.

*Appropriate accessories to have it all up and running.

What do all the hob-knobs, big-wigs and guru swarmies say?

Baz.

[issdaol]

Money No Barrier? ..... What about the Takahashi FET300 300mm Triplet Flourite APO Refractor :eyepop: and the Tak Mount for it ... he he

[bloodhound31]

Googling now! :rundog:

[bloodhound31]

Crikey! Is this the one you speak of?

http://www.takahashi-europe.com/en/FET-300.php

[issdaol]

Yep :D And I think the Mount is the Takahashi EM 3500 or 4500 :D

[vaztr]

one word - Keck

http://keckobservatory.org/index.php

;)

[Paul Haese]

I wouldn't bother with another Tak mount for imaging. Nice mounts but homing makes it hard to image the same target from night to night.

PME II is a good choice. I would go with a 14.5 rather than 16". That is just over kill for city imaging. In fact a good refractor would be better as you will most likely be imaging nebulae with narrowband than go for galaxies in broad band. Only the really bright galaxies can be imaged well from city lights and a big scope is really made for light collection in dark skies.

Camera, either FLI or SBIG 11,000 and up sensors. Filters either Astronomiks or Astrodons.

Spending 100000K on a rig with lots of light pollution is really not necessary. Just a waste of money really. Based on the images I have seen of your new obs at night I think there is too much sky glow for useful imaging in broad band.

[Poita]

I'd be getting a Mesu mount or an ASA Direct Drive mount, and one of these:
http://www.baader-planetarium.de/tec/download/tec-vt_300mm_7deg.pdf

Mmmmm.... f1.44

[LewisM]

You do know what FET means? F^&*()#Enormous Telescope... :thumbsup: A dream scope.

I beleive each mount is custom made to the purchasers mag dec too.

I wonder if a team of Tak scientists comes and installs it in your observatory too. I doubt they'd make me one on a tripod :rofl:

[lacad01]

Don't want to spoil your dream but would you want to spend so much money imaging from Canberra :question: Maybe invest the money in a stealth EMP device which knocks out all the lights around your area ;)

[issdaol]

:lol:

Yep from what I have read it is a custom job and install that Takahashi Does for you themselves. The objective supposedly takes a very long time to produce.

I found a price for the mount which is $99000.00 USD :eyepop:

I wonder what the OTA Price is ?? :eyepop::lol:

[Wavytone]

Nah...

I'd start with:

- a Baker-Nunn camera (60 cm aperture at f/0.6) on a modern mount,
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://sirismm.si.edu/siahistory/imagedb/2002-32252.jpg&imgrefurl=http://sirismm.si.edu/siris/top_images/sic.top.08_2009.htm&h=768&w=979&sz=153&tbnid=JqImKB2n_9Tj-M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=119&zoom=1&usg=__0Up2zAcpQFTNLOVSlVyUqcvVdDA=&docid=9zvID4TADvy0CM&sa=X&ei=rt4JUbDqMeudmQW2m4HwDQ&ved=0CDgQ9QEwAg&dur=3978

- a 60 cm f/3.7 Honders-Riccardi, and
- a 30 cm f/15 classical cassegrain for visual of the planets.

[OICURMT]

You could have had this one (http://www.southerngalactic.com/RCOSSale.jpg)for A$50k two years ago...

[bloodhound31]

Not spoiling any dream mate, it's purely hypothetical. :)

[AstralTraveller]

So the first expense is a dark-sky site. You might look around Meekatharra or Mt Magnet, though if you are worried about future light pollution from the SKA you might opt for the northern Flinders Ranges. I believe these were the other two areas on the short-list when the site for the AAT was chosen.

BTW when considering an 'imaging rig' don't you need to identify the targets? Are you after tiny little galaxies or great swathes of milky way or planets.

[issdaol]

Hmmm, Which scope to go with ..... 12inch Triplet Flourite APO or 16 inch reflector with 40% obstruction?

[netwolf]

Hmm were to start.

I will take this one
http://www.astrooptik.com/Komplettgeraete/Cassf9_e.htm
http://panther-observatory.com/telescopes.htm
Check out the Gallery at http://panther-observatory.com/

[OICURMT]

http://www.dfmengineering.com/cct_50.html

[alistairsam]

I'd go with the CDK700 Alt-Az mount and 28inch scope.
0.05arc sec tracking, no PE, no backlash, high speed, quiet, direct drive, nasmyth focus. I'm sure there are better ones, but at $185k, I'd start with this
http://www.planewave.com/index.php?page=1&id0=0&id=5. Like buying a Merc.

[issdaol]

:eyepop: :eyepop: Lucky I have 3 phase

[simmo]

Hello,

$$ no object?

1 build own amateur rocket

2 build satellite with telescope and onboard camera

3 launch it and have own private hubble

Hmm.. .ohhh yeahhhh! :thumbsup: :lol:

Simmo ;)

[brian nordstrom]

:lol: With a full accomodation block for us IIS'rs to use ? and transport to and fro . Cool .
Brian.

[simmo]

Hello again

" :lol: With a full accomodation block for us IIS'rs to use ? and transport to and fro . Cool .
Brian. "

Now we're talking.

Even if it blew up half way (or before it took off!) :jawdrop: what a way to spend a couple of months with your mates and your money. :cheers:

Bloodhound how 'bout a showstopper at astrocamp this year?

Headlines read "amateur online astronomers go big and launch own satellite"

Don't laugh could happen. Maybe if we all pitched in and everyone with a spare scope sold it off. Couple of govvie grants and bob's you're uncle.

Of course we'll let you have first go bloodhound.

Simmo ;)

[Steffen]

I don't know why people spend so much on imaging. If I was after pretty pictures all I'd need was a Mac mini a with nice big colour screen, and images.google.com, or hubblesite.org or apod.nasa.gov set as my browser home page…

:scared3:

Hehe, just kidding ;)

Cheers
Steffen.

[04Stefan07]

If money was no object I would buy the Hubble Space Telescope :lol:

[brian nordstrom]

:lol: Your shout .
Brian.

[brian nordstrom]

;) I love M42 in my 8 and a 1/4 inch Takahashi M210 .
The real best at 1/20th the wave of light .
Brian.

[Barrykgerdes]

If money really is no object all the potential suggestions are complete 'Mickey Mouse";)

If astronomy is your real and only desire first requirement is a country estate at a truly dark site ($500000 should cover it). :thumbsup:

Next a 5 metre domed observatory ($50000 at a guess):thumbsup:

Next a solid pier to mount a "real" telescope and some mechanical devices for lifting etc. ($5000 should cover it):thumbsup:

Now a suitable telescope can be had starting at $150000 to the sky's the limit.:thumbsup:

I am retired with a permanent indexed pension and assets probably worth $1000000 (house in a wanted city area) could probably do this If astronomy was my only interest and I expect many others could meet these basic requirements.;)

Oh! Unless the SWMBO is in full agreement get rid of her first (that will cost half your assets):mad2:

Barry

[netwolf]

How about we just build a warp drive, add in a Transporter, a man with a Scottish accent and go Trekking through the universe. What could beat seeing it up close and personal.

If only TV had not killed our brain cells we might have sub space communications and Warp drive by now. The Rapid growth of Scientific discovery at the start of the century seems to have stagnated. We are still using Electromagentic waves that are so last century. Where are the Hertz, Maxwell, Rutherfords, Bohrs, Planks, Eddison, Tesla's and Einsteins of this century.

[Poita]

Does yours measure to 1/20th wave? The two Mewlon 210 scopes I have looked through and tried imaging with haven't tested as well as the C9.25 Edge I had. The ones I have seen were 1/8th wave at best.

Money no object, far side of the moon obs and a space elevator up to an in orbit station and a quick trip to and from the moonscope when I want some quiet time.

Hopefully the moon Nazis won't notice me there.

[AstralTraveller]

If you made a reasonable offer, perhaps even half reasonable, you could probably get Perth Observatory. :rolleyes: They'd probably even throw in a few staff to run it.

[rustigsmed]

good question i'd go for an OWL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overwhelmingly_Large_Telescope
of course in its original 100 metre spec, not the puny 60m design! :thumbsup:

[DJT]

If money were no object, I would be leasing a plot of land in Namibia and setting up a telescope farm. Kit out with best available equipment, lease to universities and outreach program's, amateur imagers etc, and manage it as something to do and use the income to rent out keck for one night a year to image something stunning...I believe $70k a night is the going rate these days with no refunds for clouds.

Anyone sniffing an investment opportunity here? Your return is a go at Keck every couple of years ;)